Failed 2019
Anki
Consumer robots are a novelty that wears off after a few weeks. Anki's Vector robot was beloved but not essential.
Founded → Closed
2010 → 2019
Funding Raised
$182M
Industry
Robotics/Consumer
Country
USA
IdeaProof AI Failure Score
60/100
Market Fit Risk
45
Burn Rate Risk
75
Founder Risk
20
Full Analysis
Anki made consumer robots (Cozmo, Vector) and AI-powered racing cars. The products received rave reviews and sold well initially, but repeat purchases didn't materialize. Consumer robots remain novelties — exciting for weeks, then forgotten. With $182M burned and no path to profitability, Anki shut down in 2019 despite reportedly having a deal with Amazon that fell through at the last minute.
Could This Failure Have Been Prevented?
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